District election officials identify 416 vulnerable polling booths in Vellore, nearby districts

The district election officials have identified 416 vulnerable polling booths in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai districts as part of enforcing the Model Code of Conduct for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which will be held on April 23.

Election officials said that together, these districts have at least 21 Assembly constituencies including Katpadi, Vellore, Arakkonam, Sholinghur, Ranipet, Jolarpet, Tirupatur, Arani, Vandavasi, Cheyyar, Chengam, Tiruvannamalai, Ambur, and Vaniyambadi.

More than 6,000 polling booths within Tiruvannamalai district alone have 3,270 booths for its eight Assembly constituencies for the elections. “As most polling booths are government schools, steps to provide basic amenities are being done. The booths are under constant vigil by election officials and police,” said an election official. 

Of the identified vulnerable booths, Vellore has the highest number with 137 booths, followed by Ranipet, 136, Tiruvannamalai, 80, and Tirupattur 63. Safety measures including web cameras, police personnel and status of strong rooms are also being taken.

As most of the polling booths are government schools, especially in remote rural areas, easy access to these polling booths, including levelling of the open area of the campus are also being done. Washrooms and water taps are readied.

A crackdown on history sheeters and repeat offenders is also being undertaken by the respective district police to ensure smooth and peaceful polling. The police have also initiated a visit to licenced arms holders, who have not voluntarily given the arms to the local police station. More than 1,500 licenced arms holders have been identified in these districts. 

Border check posts in these districts are also tightened to prevent illegal flow of cash and materials for distribution to voters for the elections. Each district, on an average, has at least six check posts, mostly inter-State ones.

Some of the check posts in Ranipet district include Sikkarayapuram, Pallari, Thamaraipakkam, Arumpakam, and Rettaikulam. Each check post has been strengthened with at least two constables led by a sub-inspector. All permanent check posts have been integrated with control rooms at the SP office in these districts with advanced CCTV cameras.